Honeycomb and Braided Cables Square for Cabled Afghan Knit-Along

Welcome to the Cabled Afghan Knit-Along! Each week we share a new square pattern and help you learn to make it. Watch videos on Creativebug (sign up for a free account to get access to the videos) and see tutorials here on the blog.

This week we will be working on the Honeycomb and Braided Cables Square (LW4309-I). You can download the pattern for this square here.

We’ll learn a new stitch, knit 1 through the back loop (k1-tbl). The rest of the cables are variations of the 2 over 2 cables that we’ve already been doing.

Edie often forgets to make tick marks or to turn a commercial row counter to keep track of which row she is on, so she has a homemade row counter to show you. You can use another method to keep track of rows, but if you’re struggling this technique might be perfect for you.

Take waste yarn in a different color than your main project and cut a piece about 2 feet long. Fold the yarn in half and tie overhand knots along the length to create spaces for each row in the row repeat. This square has an 8-row repeat, so there will be 8 knots and 8 spaces. It’s OK if the knots are not exactly the same distance apart.

Row 1 is a right side row. Start with purl 2. Edie isn’t using using stitch markers for this square (although you certainly can), but she will put the first loop of the row marker here.

Knit the next stitch through the back loop (k1-tbl). We normally knit stitches through the front loop, so knitting through the back loop twists the stitch and makes an interesting look. To knit through the back loop, put your needle in to the loop on the far side of the needle and then knit as normal.

Continue across the row: purl 2 then knit 6 to finish setting up the 1st Braided Cable panel. Purl 2, knit 1 through back loop, and purl 2 to get across to the middle Honeycomb panel. Knit 24 for the first row of the Honeycomb pattern. Purl 2, knit 1 through back loop, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, knit 1 through back loop, and purl 2 to complete the row and match how you started it.

Row 2, a wrong-side row, is knit the knits and purl the purls. Treat the stitches where you did knit 1 through the back loop as regular stitches on the wrong side rows.

When you get to the row marker, slip your needle into the next space down. Now you can see that you just completed Row 2, since you are in the second space.

Row 3 begins with a purl 2. Slip your needle into the 3rd space down in the row marker, so you know you’re in Row 3.Every time we get to this next column of stitches on the right side (odd) rows, knit 1 through the back loop to make a twisted column. Next do a 2 over 2 Right Cross (2/2 RC) (see the blog for square D for instructions) to start the first Braided Cable section.

This Braided Cable is a 6 stitch cable, but we’re just crossing 2 over 2 right now so knit the next 2 stitches to finish the cable section. We’ll use these other 2 sts later on. Purl 2, knit 1 through the back loop, and purl 2 to move over to the Honeycomb section.

Start the Honeycomb section with a 2/2 RC then a 2 over 2 Left Cross (2/2 LC) (see the blog for square D for instructions). Continue 2 /2 Right Crosses and 2/2 Left Crosses across the Honeycomb panel of the square. Purl 2, knit 1 through the back loop, purl 2 to get to the second Braided Cable. Knit a 2/2 RC and then knit 2 for the Braided Cable, then finish the row with a purl 2, knit 1 though the back loop, and purl 2.

In Row 4, like Row 2, you’ll knit the knits and purl the purls. When you reach the row marker, slip your right needle into the next loop down so you know that you’ve finished Row 4.

Row 5 is easier, with no cable twists. You will continue to knit 1 through the back loop for those 4 stitches, but the rest of the stitches are just knits and purls worked in pattern across. Row 6 matches Rows 4 and 2.

Row 7 has twists again! Purl 2, knit 1 through the back loop, purl 2, then reach the Braided Cable. This time we’ll knit 2 first and then work a 2/2 LC. The braided pattern will develop as we work additional rows. Purl 2, knit 1 through the back loop, purl 2, then work the Honeycomb pattern. Start with a 2/2 LC, then 2/2 RC. Alternate them across the middle Honeycomb section.

Purl 2, knit 1 through the back loop, purl 2. At the second braided cable knit 2, then work a 2/2 LC. Finish the row with purl 2, knit 1 through the back loop, purl 2. Finish the 8 row repeat by working Row 8, which matches the other wrong side rows.

At the end of row 8 you will have your needle in the lowest space on the marker. When you start the row repeat again, move your needle to the top space in the marker so you know you’re on Row 1 again.

Work Rows 1-8 a total of 7 times and bind off on a right side row.

Looking at the finished square, there is the dense textured Honeycomb panel in the middle over a background of Stockinette stitch. There is a braided cable on each side, and the mini twists of the knit 1 through the back loop columns on either side of the braided cables.

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One thought on “Honeycomb and Braided Cables Square for Cabled Afghan Knit-Along”

Love this project! I just hate waiting for a week for a new square. I have every one done by Thursday, some done by Wednesday evening. At least I am able to complete a few small projects while I wait for the next blocks. I am going to start blocking and sewing mine together this week, I can’t wait to have mine done so I can wrap up in it in front of my fire place this fall. I chose to do mine in a lavender with a dark plumb border. I am learning so much from this class! Thank you so very much for allowing this to be a free class. It covers everything I wanted to know about knitting cables. Edie is a great teacher! Happy knitting everyone! ~Jenn Todd